St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-22
FRENCH TRAVELLERS.
Some of Their Adventures In the Shows of
Foreign Country.

Some of Their Adventures in the Shows of
aForeign Country.
The Paris De6ats publishes letters from
NJ Bonvalot, in which he describes his
adventures in crossing the Pamir table
land In the first letter, dated Mastutch,
June 10, he states that he and his fellow
travellers quilted Ak-Basoga, north of the
Pamir, on March 10, by moonlight, SO as
to have the benefit of the night frost,
which hardened the snow With much diff
ficulty they crossed the defle of Taldick,
sometimes sinking into the snow, which
had depth in places of nine feet. In an
intense cold for five days they travelled
over the snow, the reflection from which
of the sunshine scorched their faces. On
arriving at the pass of Risib-Art the
travellers were exhausted. Their lips,
noses and eyes were in a pitiable state
A days rest restored them. On arriv-
ing at the Lake of kara-kul they found
they had only twenty of the fifty horses
with which they started. At the Lake
Rangkul they had lost three more
horses, which were killed in hur
ricane encountered at the Pass of
kizil-Djik. The travellers suffered from
the rarity of the air, which rendered
them unfit for the slightest muscular ex-
ercise. On the night of April l they
came across Chinese post. This was
unfortunate for them. They politely
asked the way, but were ordered to re-
trace their steps. The officer said he
could not allow them to pass without an
order from the kashgar. He would suf-
fer death if he acted otherwise. The
success of the journey was at stake; so
the travellers decided to defy these Chi
nese authorities They invited the chief
officer to drink tea with them. He came
with two soldiers.
without needing the laws of hospi-
tality," says NJ Bonvalot, II thrashed
him with stick, and threatened to cut off
his ears if he did not supply us immedi-
ately with camels." He gave the required
orders, and NJ. Bonvalot watched him till
his men had come back with the beasts,
which were indispensable. The travellers
knew that party of Chinese had set out
for reinforcement; SO they hurried on
as fast as possible, determined to kill
any one who attempted to oppose them.
Wherever they found yaks or camels
they requisitioned them, and in that way
they reached AkTash, place with fifty
Inhabitants on the route of the caravans
going from Tagharusa to Wakham.
They expected to have found at Ah-Tash
party of Chinese to arrest them, but
the deep snow had effectually blocked
the Tagharusa Pass, and thus protected
them. To escape death by starvation
they were compelled to take sheep
from the KirghiZ inhabitants, for which
they offered payment. The people
would not accept the money publicly, as
they dreaded punishment from the Chi
nese, who had severely punished some
persons guilty on previous occasion of
selling provisions and furnishing beasts
of burden to Russians. Although the
travellers were now at lower level they
were still in the midst of snow. On
reaching the Afghan territory in the
valley of the Oxus they engaged some
yak herdsmen to take their baggage to
Kundjut by the valley of Taskrupruk.
But on the fourth night the herdsmen
left them. They found the pass was n OF
practicable and had to retrace their steps,
leaving behind them their baggage and
losing five more horses.
They pitched their tent on the caravan
road and waited there for the arrival of
a company of travellers, from whom they
could get beasts of burden to bring back
their baggage. A caravan came up, and
for 3OOf. offered to take their baggage
to the nearest Afghan village. The
travellers arrived there, but the inhabit-
ants detained them for four days, and
they had to escape without a guide and
make their way as they best could to
Chitral. At Mastoudj, their horses be-
ing exhausted, they had to stop. They
were threatened with death, but
after a deal of talking it was agreed
that two of their party, MN. Capus and
Pepin, should visit the chief at Chitral
There they were arrested, and threatened.
In the meantime, however, their letters
had reached the Indian government, and
they were set at liberty. They arrived
at Gilghit on July 20, without baggage or
dress, but not without money, a supply
having been sent to them by the Indian
government. In his last letter, dated
Gilghit, July 90, M. Bonvalot say Us that
till they reached the Cashmere frontier
they could only obtain porters and
horses by using the stick and the revol
yer. On the Sd they arrived on English
territory, and their troubles were at an